THE treatment offered to patients with blood disorders across North Wales is to be re-examined.

Clinical haematology services for the most common illnesses have been offered at all three general hospital in North Wales.

They also treated the more serious blood and bone marrow disorders including leukaemia.

Now the Betsi Cadwaladr university health board is to hold talks with staff over potential changes to services.

The board said yesterday that maintaining three separate teams did not allow them to meet the requirements of the national cancer guidelines.

“We have also had difficulties in recruiting medical staff to North Wales and with a number of medical staff due to retire in the next few years this could provide challenges for the future,” a statement said.

“There is a need to establish a modern service that is designed to deliver safe and effective cancer treatment services to the patients of North Wales.

“The formation of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board means there is now an opportunity to ensure that the clinical haematology service is provided and resourced in a sustainable way for the future.”